Loyola Academy Celebrates End of the School Year with a Special Mass and Celebration

In the morning, Beavers Coffee truck was stationed at the main entrance, serving mini donuts and coffee that helped the day get off to a tasty start, courtesy of the Annual Giving Program.

After Mass, the community honored the retirement of four outstanding faculty and staff members: Mike Dupuis, science; Chris Howe, theology; Kevin McDonough, athletics; and, notably, John O'Loughlin '59 retired after 60 years of service to Loyola Academy as a coach and teacher. Read more about John's storied career here at Lake and Laramie.

During this time, we also celebrated 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year service anniversaries for many of the dedicated faculty and staff members.

This special Institute Day also allowed the school community to recognize the winners of the Educator of the Year and Staff Excellence Awards. Although the Educator of the Year Award winner had previously been announced at the 114th Commencement Exercises, School Counseling Department Chair Tyler Vradenburg had the opportunity to celebrate this achievement with his colleagues during this time. The Educator of the Year Award recognizes a faculty member's distinguished professional service to Loyola Academy as voted on by the senior class. Then, Director of Major Gifts Les Seitzinger '88 was honored with the Staff Excellence Award. This distinction celebrates a staff member who embodies Jesuit ideals by being a woman or man for others; has an excellent record of service; and is involved in the school community by supporting cocurricular activities, ministry, and athletics. This accomplishment also marks a bittersweet moment as Seitzinger will depart Loyola Academy to serve as vice president for advancement at Bishop England High School in South Carolina after more than 30 years of service to Loyola's mission as an administrator, coach, mentor, and teacher.

Faculty and staff members ended the day with a delicious barbeque catered by Poochies in Skokie. Members of the community mixed and mingled as they shared their summer plans and enjoyed the final moments of the 2023–24 school year together.